The first firing of the warm season came Wednesday, with the temperature in the studio up near 120 degrees F. by the time we reached cone 10. I have pilot light problems with the kiln if the doors are open and there's a cross-draft, so they pretty much stay closed for the whole firing. Which makes summer firings so exhausting. Something about peering into that hot kiln wears me out by the end of the day.
That said, it was a good firing. Lots of mugs and teabowls and a few spouted pouring bowls. Dana's Kitchen, a fine little off-the-beaten-tourist-path cafe here in Falmouth, has served coffee in my mugs for a few years, but needed another order of them. So there were a couple dozen of them in this firing. Plus smaller coffee cups and a group of teabowls. Warming up for bigger things in the next firing, I guess.
This firing went well, climbing steadily up to top temperature. Steadily but slowly, I think because it was a pretty tight pack of pots in there. I shut down at 5 p.m., which makes it an eight-hour firing. But the cones top and bottom were almost exactly even and the reduction was good all around, so I'm happy about it.
Our friend Janet came over to help unload. She likes pots. And she took the photo of me peering into the still-warm kiln. I try like hell to keep photos of me off the blog. It think it scares the readership ... better to have pots than this particular potter.
I botched a potential blog photo assignment this week, as Dan Finnegan's helper Beth and her husband Elliot (sp?) came by on their vacation to Cape Cod. Should have photographed ... Anyway, a nice couple of folks, who have apparently done overnight duty on Dan's wood kiln, which makes them good people in my estimation. Beth went home with a little squared mug. And I hope they managed to get to a few other potteries on their way back to meet friends in Chatham.
10 comments:
Beth is a gem.
oh well done 8 hrs i'd give something for that...and nice pic its great to see you making a cameo..
Don't get used to it, Ang. I need to get a vid camera to do the studio tour things you and Hannah do. And yes, Anna, I didn't spend much time with her, but she seems like a very nice person. And her husband, too.
I see a couple of nice reds in there too; 120 yikes that's hot.
Great Looking Pots Hollis. I love your colours and shapes.I love drinking out of the mug you sent me. they have a life of their own.
that first firing is done now on to more!
Looks great- I am still a fan of iron blacks-----yum!
I think the photo of you is great! and the pots aren't too shabby either! Very nice as usual :)
Thanks, all. You're right, Meredith, on to the next pots. I'm at Arts Alive here in Falmouth, next to the library lawn. The season's first art fair. Lovely sunny day today and lots of people buying pots.
very happy about that. I'll shoot some photos tomorrow and post them Monday. Thanks, Paul, your big mug is my regular studio water-carrier. Thanks, Trace. And welcome home.
I like the little bunch of three mugs Holis, very sweet looking things.
My filming is just the film setting on my very old very battered not long for this world digital camera but it does ok, I'm yet to be brave enough to get me in there too though.
Keep at it.
hx
From my point of view, I can understand that, Hannah. Though I think people would be happier seeing you than seeing me.
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